Lathe chuck orienting means



Aug. 21, 1956 Q c ss LATHE CHUCK ORIENTING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 29, 1955 M 3 WW 4 I V. Jfl

INVENTOR Cl/n/ Gross ATTORNEYS Aug. 21, 1956 CRQSS 2,759,735

LATHE CHUCK ORIENTING MEANS Filed Sept. 29, 1955 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a? 4 0)! l1 WE 1 W W .5" W" I 29' A f I? 4 I 9 II 4 V g f 47 o I M] a 30 /15 Fig. 8 INVENTOR C/I'm Gross United States Patent 2,759,735 LATHE CHUCK ORIENTINQMEANSV Clint Cross, Tulsa, Okla, assignor to, Dover Corporation,

Washington, D. C., a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to new and useful improvements in chucks and more particularly to orienting means for lathe chucks.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved chuck having novel means for orienting polygonal articles relative to the jaws of the chuck.

An important object of the invention is to provide improved orienting means for a chuck of such construction as to automatically position work of angular crosssection with respect to the jaws of the chuck so that said jaws grip the flat surfaces of the work instead of the corners or edges between said fiat surfaces.

A particular object of the invention is to, provide improved orienting means, of the character described, which includes a spring-pressed member carried :by one of the jaws of the chuck for movement and coaction therewith and having a complementary jaw face for engaging the polygonal work and forcing its flat surfaces into parallel relation with the faces of the jaws upon movement of said jaws toward each other.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved orienting means, of the character described, which is adapted for use with elongated articles having angular surfaces, such as rods, and which is arranged to be mounted on the jaws of vises and holding devices, such as lathe chucks, of pneumatic, hydraulic or other type, having means for accommodating elongated articles.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a lathe chuck having orienting means mounted thereon in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the chuck and orienting means with unoriented work between the jaws of said chuck,

'Fig. '3 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on t-heline 44 of Fig. 2,

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are front elevational views of the chuck showing the closing movement of its jaws and the turning of unoriented work by the orienting means.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the cylindrical. 'body of a lathe chuck which isshown as being of the penumatic or hydraulic type and which has an adapter plate 11 for mounting on one end of a tubular lathe spindle 12. An angular face plate 13 is secured to the outer end of the chuck body it? opposite the adapter plate 11 by recessed bolts 14 (Fig. 2). The outer end of the chuck body and its face plate 13 have a pair of diametrically-opposed, radial slots or grooves 15 for slidable engagement by a pair of master jaws 16 and 17.

An operating lever 18 is disposed in the hollow interior of the body for actuating each master jawand its outer end is pivoted on a transverse pin 19 having its ends journaled in the wall of said body adjacent the slot 15. Each master jaw is rectangular, being of greater length than width, and-has a recess or socket 20 in its inner surface for engagement by a lug or projection 21 on the outer end of the operating lever. The inner end of the lever 18 is pivotally connected by a transverse pin 22 to the inner end of a link 23. A coaxial, draw tube 24 extends through the bore of the spindle 12 into the chuck body and has an external,

radial lug or projection 25 on its outer end connected to the outer end of each link 23 by a pivot pin 26. The draw tube is adapted to be reciprocated by a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder or other suitable means (not shown) for pivoting the link 23 and lever 18 to reciprocate each master jaw longitudinally of its slot 15. Thus, the jaws l6 and 17 are closed and opened or moved toward and away from each other by reciprocation of the draw tube 24. A wear tube 27 is mounted concentrically within the draw tube and extends beyond the outer end of said draw tube to the outer surface of the face plate 13. Proferably, the outer end portions of the draw and wear tubes have a dust bushing 28 interposed therebetween and extending through the face plate, with a radial flange 29 on its outer end recessed in said plate and fastened thereto by suitable screws 30 (Fig. 2).

It is noted that the master jaws 16 and 17 project' a slight distance beyond the outer surface of the face plate 13 and have jaw elements 31 and 32 overlying their upright outer surfaces and fastened thereto by for engagement with work W. Although subject to.

variation, the jaw faces 35 are shown as being right angular and having flat surfaces for gripping engagement with Work which is rectangular in cross-section or with work having portions of such cross-section.

Frequently, the work W is of. elongated length and.

may be well pump rods or other rods having polygonal portions, such as wrench faces, and other portions requiring machining. In order to hold the work against turning, it'is necessary for the .jaw faces to firmly grip said work with the flat surfaces of said jaw faces and work in parallel or engaging relation. Manifestly, the work may slip if the jaw faces engage the corners of the polygonal work instead of the flat surfaces thereof.

In order to orient the work with respect to the jaw faces, one or both of the jaw elements and preferably:

the jaw element 31 is provided with means 36 for auto matically orienting the work. As shown most clearly in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the orienting means includes an angular kicker member or rocker arm 37 pivotally mounted for swinging movement in a slot or recess 38 extending transversely across the inner end of the jaw element 31 at its medial portion. A pivot pin 39 extends r transversely across the upper medial portion of the slot 38 for supporting the'rocker arm above the jaw face.

35 of the jaw element 31. One end of the slot 38 is open, while its other end is closed by and communicates with a cylindrical bore 40 extending longitudinally of the jaw element adjacent one of its lateral margins. The bore is of greater depth than the slot and extends out- Patented Aug. 21, 1956 wardly thereof ;for housing .aqhelical spring 41 and a follower or g-uide 42.

An enlarged, offset head 43 is formed on the inner end of the rocker arm 37 and has.a recessed portion 44 adjacentits pivotpin -39 to provide alug .or;projection-45-for engagement-with:thefollower 42,whereby said -:arm is constantlyurged to pivot in a .clockwise.direction by the spring41. .=The.recessed portion '44 of thetangularrkicker member. or arm permits the lug 45-to clear the bottomof the;slot.38-and-.enter the outerportionof the bore 401for compressing the spring. As shown by the numeral '46, the outer oropposite-endgportionof the arm is.elongated and projects fromthetopen end of the slotilaterally of the jaw element. A cam or stoprnember 47 isfastened bysuitablebolts .48 .tothe :outensurface of \the face;plate 13 inioverhanging relation to the projecting end T46 of thezarmfortengagemenfitherewithwhen the-jaws 16 and 1-7 are opened as shown .in --Fig. v2. This engagement swings .the armcounterclockwise about. itspivotpin so as toeompresstthe-spring and position the.head 43 of-said armabove theinnerend of thejaw element.

.ArSllbStflIltlBliY V-shapednotch or recess 49'is formed inztherocker arm contiguous its head and inwardly of its pivot pinfor registrationnwith the,jaw face 35 of they jaw element 31 when the jaws '16 and 17 are opened. his noted that'one surface of the notch forms .one margin of =.the head. As shownby the numeral.50, the apex portionof the=notch 49'is widened-to make certain that theaapex of theajaw face-is free .from .obstruction when the arm is pivoted counterclockwise with its. headdisposed abovethe inner end of the. jaw element (Figs..,2 and 8). The kicker is arranged torautomatically orient the work Wupon closingof the jaws when said work isunoriented QI'JhaSitS flatsurfaces in:non-parallel;relation to the flat surfaces of the. jaw faces. Since the arm .is pivotally mountedand spring-pressed,;its head 43 projects inwardly beyond the-jaw elementand itsjaw facewhen said arm is permitted .to pivot clockwise.

ASSh0WI1'in=Fig. 5,:the spring 41 commences to pivot the rockerwarm clockwiseupon initial closing movement ofrtheijaws duetotheinward movementofsaidarm with its.jaw'elementawayfrom thecam 47. If the'work is unoriented, the edge .portion of the fiat work surface adjacent the head isrengagediby said head'and said work is;forced,to turn clockwise asshown in .Figs. 6 and 7. Thisturning isassistedby-thenotch .49 of the arm,-being permitted' by the-angularityof the jaw faces.35, and continues until the work .is oriented :as shown in :Fig. 8, whereby the fiatsurfacesof said jaw faces and work are int-parallel,aengagingrelation. -In'this manner, the work may :be.firmly .gripped and held stationary vby the jaw faces without the necessity of manually orienting said work.

-'I.Iponrengagementrof the flat: surfaces of the jaw faces and work, therocker arm 37. is'swung counterclockwise so as toadispose tits-head 143 within the slot 38 and its communicating .bore 40. :Upon opening'ofthe jaws, the spring urges the armlto pivot clockwise until its'projecting end 46;-strikes the .cam-47 and reversesthe pivotal movementrofssaid arm. Whenthe jaws are completely open as. shown inJFig.. 2,1the1cam functions to hold the arm in its retracted position clear of'the jaw face. Due to the provision-of the spring 41, a resilent force is provided for kickingthe work intoorientation with the jaw faces 35-uponclosing of the master. jaws 16 and 17. Obviously, thisarrangement permits the arm to ride over the surfaces and corners of the work without binding or hanging thereupon. "It is noted that the orienting means is applicable to chucks, Vises and holding "devices other than lathe chucks.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a chuck, a chuck body, a pair of chuck jaws slidably mounted on the bodyfor closing and opening movement toward. and away from each other,-angular jaw faces on the inner ends of the jaws for coacting engagement with-polygonal work,iand'means carried by and'movable with one of said jaws for'engaging-and'orienting-the work withrespect to-the jaw faces upon closing movement of said jaws.

2. In a chuck asjset forth. in claim 1 wherein the orienting means includes a spring-pressed member pivotally mounted on one of the jaws and projecting inwardly of its jaw face for engagement with the work.

.3. .In a chuck asset forth in claim 2, means mounted on sthe :chuck body adjacent the jaw and its orienting means for engaging and pivoting the orienting means to atretractedrposition upon opening of the jaws.

4. In achuck, atchuck body, a-pair of chuc k jaws slidably mounted on the bodyfor closing and- 'opening movement-toward and away'from each other, angular jaw faces on :the inner ends of the jaws for coacting engagement with polygonal Work,.and spring-pressedorienting means carried byandzmovablewithone of said jaws and projecting;inwardly.of its jaw face so as to engage and orient'the work with respectito .the :jaw'faces upon closing movement;of said jaws.

5. :Inachuck as set forth in claim 4 whereinthe'orienting means is pivotally mountedon one of the jaws for projection .and retraction relative to its jaw face, and meanson the.chuck body adjacent'said jaw for engagement .with said .orienting means upon opening -of said jaws :to pivottsaid orienting means to'its retracted .position.

6. zlnzatlathexchuck, a chuck body, a pair of chuck jaws slidably mountedv on-the-bodyfor radial closing and opening. movement, angular jawfaces on the inner ends-of the jaws and havingflat surfaces for coacting-engagementwith the flat surfaces of-polygonal work to grip-thewo'rkupon closingzof said jaws, and spring-pressed orienting means movablymounted .on oneof said jaws for'projection and retraction relative to its jaw face, the orienting means projectingdnwardly 'ofthe-jaw face to engageunoriente'd work and apply a resilient force thereto for turning said work with'ifs fiat surfaces in parallel-relation to'the flat surfaces of the jawfaces upon-closing movement of said jaws, said orientingmeans moving to its retracted position upon engagement-of the flat surfaces of said jaw faces and'work.

.7. -In:a1athe chuck"as set forth in claim '6 wherein'the orienting means includes an angular pivoted member having an offsettportion for engagement-with the work, and a spring engaging the'mem'berto permit retractionof its offset portion and to urge said portion into projecting relation 'to the v jaw 'face.

8. In a lathe chuck as set forth in claim 7 wherein'the angular-member has arecess substantially complementary to the jaw face for registration therewith upon retraction of the: offset .portion of said member.

.9. Ina lathe'chuck as set forth in claim7, a stop member mountedon the chuck body adjacent the angular member for engagement therewith upon opening of-the jaws to pivot'said' member to its retracted position.

Nowreferences cited. 

